Gardenia plant named &#39;4KIMYMJ01&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  gardenia  plant named ‘ 4 KIMYMJ 01’  particularly distinguished by flowers that are double-flowered with early flowering and increased flower production, dense compact branching habit with compact, dark green leaves, uniform, compact and mounding growth habit under standard production practices and increased tolerance to root diseases, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Gardenia jasminoides.

Variety denomination:

‘4KIMYMJ01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of gardenia plant, botanically known as Gardenia jasminoides, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘4KIMYMJ01’. This new gardenia plant originated from an open pollination conducted in 2009 in Dearing, Ga. between the female gardenia plant ‘Frostproof’ (unpatented) and an unknown male gardenia plant. The objective of the breeding program was to create a new gardenia plant with an early blooming habit, double-flowered, compact growth habit, easy-to-grow, and plants exhibiting cold hardiness.

Approximately 1400 progeny seeds resulting from said open pollination were planted in 2009. In 2010, progeny seedlings were planted in 2.25 inch liner cups and then in 2011 progeny seedlings were planted in 1-gallon containers. In 2013, progeny seedlings were planted in 3-gallon containers, inoculated with Phytophthora cinnamomi, and grown to evaluate disease response and production characteristics. The new variety was selected by the inventor as a single plant within said progeny in a controlled environment in Dearing, Ga. The new variety was selected based on its response to drought stress, disease, cold hardiness, and unique flowering and growth characteristics. ‘4KIMYMJ01’ was first reproduced asexually by vegetative semi-softwood stem cuttings in October 2013 in Dearing, Ga. ‘4KIMYMJ01’ has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and has been found to be stable and reproduce true-to-type through two successive generations of asexual reproduction by vegetative semi-softwood stem cuttings.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have not been applied for. ‘4KIMYMJ01’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere in the world prior to the effective filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new gardenia variety has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, light intensity, water status, fertilizer rate and type, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new gardenia variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Dearing, Ga. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes ‘4KIMYMJ01’ as a new and distinct variety of gardenia:

-   -   1. Flowers that are double-flowered with early flowering and         increased flower production;     -   2. Dense branching habit with compact, dark green leaves;     -   3. Uniform, compact and mounding growth habit under standard         production practices; and     -   4. Increased tolerance to root diseases.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new gardenia is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the overall plant habit including flowers and foliage of the plant. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of 3.6, 4 and 8-year-old plants grown in the ground and in 3-gallon containers in Dearing, Ga. The photographs were taken in May 2017 in Dearing Ga. under natural light and natural shade. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the botanical description which accurately describes the colors of the new variety.

FIG. 1. shows the original seedling and its overall habit, including flowers and foliage.

FIG. 2. shows a 3.6-year-old container grown plant.

FIG. 3. shows typical foliage and flower buds.

FIG. 4. shows a view of a typical mature flower.

FIG. 5. shows flower forms with various reproductive structures present.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Sixth Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

The following observations and measurements describe plants grown in the ground and in 3-gallon containers when grown outdoors under a natural photoperiod in full sun in Dearing, Ga. Detailed descriptions were taken in 2016 and 2017 from approximately 3-year-old plants grown from single vegetative semi-softwood stem cuttings. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Rubiaceae.         -   Botanical.—Gardenia jasminoides.         -   Common.—Gardenia.         -   Denomination.—4KIMYMJ01. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Gardenia jasminoides plant             ‘Frostproof’ (unpatented).         -   Male or pollen parent.—Unknown. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Vegetative semi-softwood stem cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—14 to 21 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—5 to 6 months, a             cutting placed in rooting media in approximately September             to October will be rooted and ready to pot in approximately             February to March the following year, rooting time is             shorter during warmer months. -   Root description: Fibrous. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant type.—Evergreen shrub.         -   Growth habit.—Compact, mounding.         -   Height.—58.0 cm after 4 years of growth and 78.0 cm after 8             years of growth.         -   Plant spread.—62.0 cm after 4 years of growth and 87.0 cm             after 8 years of growth.         -   Growth rate.—11.0 cm to 18.0 cm per year depending on             environmental conditions and plant's age, growth rate slows             as plants mature.         -   Plant vigor.—Vigorous when young, vigor slows as plants             mature.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching.         -   Primary branches (one year or older).—Length: 18.0 cm per             year. Diameter: 0.5 cm at one year of age. Strength: Pliable             during the first year's growth and becoming stiff the second             year. Color: Mature branches: Grey-brown, N199B and 199D.             Young branches: Brown, 200D with areas of yellow-green,             144A. Texture: Exfoliating, no pubescence.         -   Lateral branches (less than one year old).—Length: 5.3 cm             per flush. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Strength: Flexible. Aspect: 10             to 45 degree angles. Texture: Setulose pubescence. Color:             Immature branches are yellow-green, 144B, and aging to             yellow-green, 144A, and funny maturing to yellow-green,             N148A. Internode length: 1.68 cm. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf type.—Simple.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Primarily opposite with some whorled             leaves, 2 to 3 per node.         -   Average mature leaf size.—Length: 3.48 cm. Width: 1.14 cm.         -   Mature leaf shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute to acuminate.         -   Leaf base.—Attenuate to crunate.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate with persistent sheathing             stipules at the apex of the node.         -   Leaf margin.—Entire.         -   Internode length.—1.72 cm.         -   Leaf texture.—Upper surface: Glabrous, waxy. Bottom surface:             Glabrous.         -   Leaf color.—Young leaves: Upper surface: Yellow-green, 146A.             Lower surface: Green, 139D. Mature leaves: Upper surface:             Green, 139A. Lower surface: Green, 138B.         -   Leaf venation.—Type: Pinnate. Color: Upper surface:             Yellow-green, 144A. Lower surface: Yellow-green, 144C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Bloom period.—Primary bloom period is typically May through             mid-May in Dearing, Ga., blooming occurs sporadically             through summer and into fall.         -   Type.—Perfect flower, complete and near complete.         -   Arrangement.—Solitary flower at apex of stems and             occasionally at leaf axils.         -   Peduncle.—Length: 0.5 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Color:             Yellow-green, 144A. Texture: Glabrous. Strength: Slightly             pliable, breakable with force.         -   Height (depth).—5.0 cm from attachment to the stem.         -   Diameter.—6.0 cm by 6.5 cm.         -   Facing direction.—Outward.         -   Persistence.—Self-cleaning.         -   Fragrance.—Sweet fragrance typical of gardenia flowers.         -   Flower tube.—Length: 2.0 cm. Width at widest point: 1.0 cm.             Width at narrowest point: 0.4 cm. Texture: Setulose             pubescence on the outside surface.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: 2 rows of petals with 1 row of             petaloids. Length: Outer row: 2.5 cm. Second row: 2.3 cm.             Third row: Petaloids measuring up to 2.1 cm in length from             point of fusion with the flower tube with smaller, irregular             petaloids present. Width: Outer row: 1.5 cm. Second row:             1.6 cm. Third row: Petaloids measuring up to 1.6 cm with             smaller, irregular petaloids present. Apex: Unevenly             rounded. Base: Fused tube. Shape: Obovate. Margin: Entire,             undulating with some overlap. Quantity: 5 to 6 per row.             Texture: Glabrous. Color: Outer surface at maturity: White,             NN155D, with a strip on the outer petals of yellow-green,             150B. Inner surface at maturity: White, NN155D and 155C, and             yellow-green, 145B. Upper surface at fading: Yellow, 10D.             Lower surface at fading: Close to white, 155C.         -   Buds.—Shape: Oblong. Length: 4.1 cm. Diameter: 1.25 cm.             Color: Green, 143C. Texture: Glaborous on the swollen area             of the petals, lanulose and setulose pubescence on the tube             area of the bud.         -   Calyx/sepals.—Quantity of sepals per flower: 5 to 6. Calyx             arrangement: Star-shaped. Sepal shape: Lanceolate and fused             to the base. Length: Calyx is 1.0 cm with sepals extending             1.5 cm beyond calyx. Width: 0.8 cm at the base of the flower             tube. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture:             Smooth. Color (both inner and outer surfaces): Yellow-green             at the apex, 144C, and yellow-green at the base, 144A. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: Varying in presence, 0 to 6 with 5 to 6             petaloid stamens most commonly present. Length: 2.1 cm.             Width: 1.6 cm. Anthers: Aspect: Curving and fused with the             petaloids. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width: 0.2 cm.             Color: Grey-brown, N199D. Pollen: Amount: Moderate. Color:             Yellow, 6D.         -   Pistils.—Quantity: 1 per flower. Length: 4.0 cm. Style:             Length: 2.8 cm. Color: White, NN155A. Stigma: Shape: Obovate             with 3 to 4 irregular shaped lobes, stigma measure 0.7 cm in             length by 0.5 cm in width. Color: Yellow, 5C. Ovary: Type:             Inferior within calyx cup. Length: 0.5 cm. Diameter: 0.7 cm. -   Cold tolerance: Hardy to USDA zone 7 with current evaluations of     cold hardiness in USDA zone 6. -   Disease and pest tolerance: Tolerance to root diseases has been     observed, but not under controlled conditions. Susceptible to insect     pests common to gardenia, such as scale and whitefly. -   Fruit and seed set: None observed. -   Drought tolerance: Tolerance to periodic drought stress has been     observed in container grown plants.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL VARIETIES

‘4KIMYMJ01’ differs from the female parent plant ‘Frostproof’ (unpatented) in that ‘4KIMYMJ01’ has a denser and more compact branching habit than ‘Frostproof’. Additionally, ‘4KIMYMJ01’ has more rounded and darker green foliage than ‘Frostproof’.

COMPARISON WITH KNOWN CULTIVARS

‘4KIMYMJ01’ differs from the commercial gardenia variety ‘Double Mint’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,507) in that ‘4KIMYMJ01’ has a more compact growth habit with plants measuring 58.0 cm by 62.0 cm after 4 years of growth, whereas plants of ‘Double Mint’ measure 68.0 cm by 70.0 cm after 4 years of growth. Additionally, when compared to ‘Double Mint’, ‘4KIMYMJ01’ has denser internode spacing of 1.68 cm, whereas ‘Double mint’ has an internode spacing of 2.3 cm. Furthermore ‘4KIMYMJ01’ an improved production consistency under a production setting in Dearing, Ga.

When compared to the commercial gardenia variety ‘Radicans’ (unpatented), ‘4KIMYMJ01’ has a more upright, mounded growth habit and more rounded foliage, whereas ‘Radicans’ has a more low spreading growth habit. Additionally, when compared to ‘Radicans’, ‘4KIMYMJ01’ has an improved production consistency under a production setting in Dearing, Ga.

When compared to the commercial gardenia variety ‘August Beauty’ (unpatented) ‘4KIMYMJ01’ blooms on average 2 weeks earlier than ‘August Beauty’. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of gardenia plant named ‘4KIMYMJ01’, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 